Lee Bell says that the data analysis the club now receive on players from the newly appointed Head of Recruitment Josh Kennard is helping the staff quickly narrow down their searches for possible transfer targets.

Kennard, who gained invaluable experience as part of the recruitment team at Championship club Millwall, has been appointed along with consultant Glyn Chamberlain to assist the staff in finding consistent achievers with the numbers to back up the visual performances.

Bell has described the work as a ‘real eye opener’ and how the data on a player can differ from what you see on the screen or live at matches.

The club’s assistant manager said: “The data analysis with Josh is just one aspect that can highlight a player and we can either get what we see backed up by the data or not, as has happened in some cases. Sometimes you are surprised by it because the numbers don’t back up what you see or think you see.

“It has been a real eye opener because it works both ways. You get the positive and the negative and it complements what we already do here, which is going out and watching players. Glyn with all his experience and contacts in the game helps with that now massively as well.

“The data is informative and can provide evidence if you like on what they are good or not so good at. That only helps us and is a real benefit because you get those both sides.

“When we have highlighted a potential target, we all sit down together and watch clips and games and we have all been out watching players over the last month or so as well, since we all came into the first-team.

Lee added: “We are all together and Alex (Morris) is very open to everyone’s opinion and we know he makes the ultimate decision, but everything is there for him to make the judgement call on all the evidence and opinions we can all provide.”